Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Feature Writer

B.Sc. Integrative Neuroscience, M.Sc. Psychology

Jocelyn Solis-Moreira graduated with a Bachelor's in Integrative Neuroscience, where she then pursued graduate research looking at the long-term effects of adolescent binge drinking on the brain's neurochemistry in adulthood. She is adept at translating and summarizing complex study findings in all medical fields with a particular interest in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer research, infectious diseases, and public health. As a freelance writer, her work spans from news articles and feature articles to evergreen explainers across many publications. Her overall goal is to make science accessible for all.

Articles from Jocelyn

How SARS-CoV-2 infects the brain

While there is no official explanation on how SARS-CoV-2 travels to the brain, a new review published in the journal Fluids and Barriers of the CNS concluded that there is insufficient evidence on COVID-induced neurological problems coming from a direct invasion of SARS-CoV-2 into the brain.

20 Jul 2021

Exhausted T cells linked to increased risk of COVID-19 mortality

New research led by Nadia R. Roan of Gladstone Institutes and the University of California, San Francisco, finds a correlation between high numbers of inflammatory CXCR4+ T cells and regulatory T cells specific to SARS-CoV-2 and dying from infection. In contrast, people who recovered from severe COVID-19 illness were more likely to have many SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells that perform homeostatic proliferation.

20 Jul 2021

How do immunocompromised patients respond to COVID-19 vaccines?

The COVID-19 vaccines produce a boost in antibody activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, new research suggests vaccine responses aren’t all created equal. Their findings showed that immunocompromised patients, such as transplant recipients, with no prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2 produce little to no neutralizing antibodies.

18 Jul 2021

Could new strains of COVID evolve in farm animals or pets?

It appears no one is safe from severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Given that SARS-CoV-2 likely developed in bats and later transmitted to humans in Wuhan, China, there has been concern over animals infecting humans. But more evidence has shown that humans are more likely to infect animals — from hamsters, gorillas to the domestic cat.

14 Jul 2021

Full intensity heparin has value in treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Results from the RAPID clinical trial suggest heparin may lower the risk of death from moderate COVID-19 infection by 78%. Heparin also significantly increased the number of days patients went without ventilation or requiring organ support.

14 Jul 2021

New research examines the elimination of the B.1.362 + L452R variant in Israel

Is it possible to completely get rid of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants? New research led by Neta S. Zuckerman of Sheba Medical Center in Israel suggests it’s possible. Their report details the upsurge of a B.1.362 variant harboring the L452R mutation that eventually disappeared due to vaccination efforts and the presence of more robust variants.

12 Jul 2021

Millions of COVID-19 cases went undetected in the first six months of the pandemic, finds study

A new report published in the journal Science Translational Medicine estimates that potentially 16.8 million Americans were infected but not officially diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 by July 2020. In addition, the results suggest there were nearly five undetected coronavirus cases for every diagnosed coronavirus infection in the first six months of the pandemic.

12 Jul 2021

New York City SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough cases predominantly Alpha and Iota variants

While Delta (B.1.617.2) has overtaken Alpha (B.1.1.7) as the dominant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant in the United States, Alpha remained a force to be reckoned with in New York City earlier this year. New research published on the preprint medRxiv* server details breakthrough infections in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals living in New York City.

9 Jul 2021

Vaccinate big cats? New report shows SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant infecting endangered lions

There is evidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infecting animals such as ferrets, fruit bats, and cats. New research led by Vijendra Pal Singh from the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Disease in India suggests it might be time to vaccinate the big cats as well. Their report details SARS-CoV-2 infection in nine Asiatic lions caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant (B.1.617.2).

7 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant spreading rapidly in South America, report reveals

A new research paper by researchers in Peru describes a new variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) known as the Lambda variant (C.37). The Lambda variant was first reported in Lima, Peru, in December 2020, and from April 2021, nearly all the coronavirus infections in the country are caused by it.

7 Jul 2021